***Trigger Warning.***

My body goes into fight or flight mode when I hear my new friend screaming bloody murder. I run to my room and grab my handgun out from under my bed with precision, there was no time to waste. I have never used a gun outside of the shooting range, but I wouldn't hesitate to use it to save Inara. It was only fair, she saved me.

I stand outside her room, my hand carefully on the trigger. I have never missed my target, but my target has never been a human body. I can't allow myself to think like that though. I just have to pray I won't have to use the weapon I'm holding. Whatever was behind her door was about to get one heck of a fight.

I shove the door open without any warning, pushing my way into her room. What I find is the last thing I expected to see. Inara sitting alone on her bed.

"Inara?" I lower my gun and make my way to her shaking figure. "Hey, are you okay?" I say softly, not wanting to scare her.

She has a faraway look in her bloodshot eyes. "I-I-I think so."

I very slowly sit down next to her. "Can you tell me what happened? You look really afraid." I try to use the same approach I'd use on a newly admitted patient who had recently been traumatized; warm and direct.

Her shiny eyes meet mine. "They want you Lyra."

My stomach drops. "Who wants me? Who are they?"

She scratches her head. "Do you remember how I told you that I quit stripping because something really bad happened to me?"

"Yeah?" I have no idea where she is going with this.

She rubs her temples and goes on. "Well, I just got a visit from the person who did it to me. They think you're working against them. They threatened me to find you and bring you to them. They think you know what happened and are going to go to the police." She laughs shakily. "Although, I don't know why they think you have anything to do with it."

My hands go numb. They're coming for me? I take yet another risk, my gut telling me I can trust her. "I have recently started looking into a case that happened at my hospital. A patient there was poisoned."

"What?! Okay, Lyra listen to me, you need to stop looking into it." She takes a deep breath. "We're just lucky they haven't figured out you've been living here. The more you look into it, the higher you're going to go up on their hit list. You have to be careful, okay? If they find out you're living here, we're both screwed."

I swallow hard. "But I know who poisoned him already. It was my ex Jeremiah. I can't let somebody else take the fall for him. The victim deserves justice. So, if they want me, tell them to come and get me."

Inara's eyebrows raise in confusion. "I don't know a Jeremiah or anything about the patient you're talking about but I do know that you're in serious danger. By looking into this case you might be opening a whole new can of worms that you aren't prepared for."

I know she means well but her warnings are starting to annoy me. She acts like I have a choice, like I can just turn my back on something this serious. People's lives are being affected left and right and she thinks I can turn a blind eye to it all in order to save myself? That's not me.

I am in far too deep for warnings. What I need is answers. "Do you know who Brant is?"

Her whole demeanor shifts. "I really can't physically talk about him. Please don't make me."

She definitely knows him, but the question is how. What did this guy do that to her that has her so afraid. I feel my heart breaking when I remember Brexton saying that Brant was the one who assaulted and murderer those girls. Did he assault Inara too?

As much as I needed answers, I didn't want to traumatize Inara any further. She has already been through enough.

I pat her shoulder lightly. "I'm sorry, I won't make you talk about him anymore." I bring her into a hug. "I'm sorry I wasn't here earlier when you needed me."

Her tears dampen my shoulder, which only makes me feel worse. "Don't apologize, you couldn't have known this was going to happen. You were coming to help me even after your long shift. I appreciate you, that's why you can't get hurt. Do you understand me Lyra?"

"I'll be safe. That goes for you too. I'm just as worried about you."

She sniffles. "Okay, so neither of us is allowed to die. Deal?"

I chuckle. "Deal."

We shake hands.

I start to stand up, thinking she's probably drained after her recent encounter. "Now that that's settled, I should let you get some sleep. Goodnight Inara."

"No wait!" She yells after me. "Could you please stay with me tonight? I really don't want to be alone right now."

She didn't have to ask me twice. Considering everything she's told me, I wasn't eager to be by myself either. "Of course."

We spend the night talking about our favorite movies and failing at sleeping.

Thankfully, I had the next day off, so I was able to lounge around the house and contemplate my next move. What have I gotten myself into? Every move I make seems to lead me into darker waters. Danger has been following me like a shadow, but why me? I'm starting to wonder if I'm just dark.

That night Inara and I sleep in our separate rooms and that night we both have nightmares. I dream I come home to Inara's blood covering every inch of her house. It scares me that it could've been reality. Whoever was in her house could've killed her and I would've been too late.

Waking up after those nightmares was almost worse than the nightmares themselves. Every bone in my body ached and I had to go to work to deal with Jessica and more than likely Jeremiah. To make matters worse, I wasn't even allowed to see Brexton. I made Inara go to a friends house until I got home, not wanting to take any chances. I wasn't about to risk that nightmare becoming a reality.

I walk into work feeling a heavy weight on my shoulders.

"What's wrong with you? You look like a sad puppy." Lucy looks at me, concerned.

I take my seat next to her. "Just tired. My sleep schedule sucks." I couldn't bring myself to tell Lucy the real reason I wasn't able to sleep. The less she knows, the better off she is.

She smiles at me. "I think I have some news that might cheer you up."

Finally, some good news. "I would really love to hear it."

She smirks. "Jessica got fired and that ugly ex of yours is banned from the property."

I was sure I heard her wrong. "What? How?"

She points a finger at me. "I did what you wouldn't. I told them about what they did in the break room and also informed the manager that Jericho or whatever his name is has been coming in here and harassing you all the time. I know you might be mad, but that's okay because those idiots are going to leave you alone now."

Her words both touch and scare me. I am grateful that she went out of her way to make me feel more comfortable, but I am afraid of how Jeremiah is going to handle this. There's nothing I trust less than a rejected Jeremiah.

I give her a hug. "Thank you Lucy, you're always looking out for me."

She hugs me back. "Please, everyone here wanted Jessica to go. I've been waiting for a reason to get her fired since the day she started working here."

I grin. "I can't believe I won't have to see her ever again. I feel like we need to celebrate."

Lucy nods. "I'll bring cake the next time we both work."

Knowing she wasn't kidding, I added. "I'll bring cookies and drinks."

"Ready to hear about your patients?"

I grab my report sheet and pen. "Yes I am."

She stares at me, amused. "Alright. You have room 203, 205 207, 208 and 209 today."

I try to hide my excitement when she says room 209. "I thought I wasn't allowed to care for Mr. McGomery?"

"I talked to the manger and explained the situation and she said you could have him back. I thought it was best, you seem to have been helping him."

I hug her again. I'm recently learning that I'm a hugger. "Have I ever told you that I love you?"

"No." She says with no expression on her face. "But I knew."